Remarks to Opening Session of The World Congress of Families IV, Warsaw,
Poland, May 2007

Ladies and
Gentlemen,

Dear Friends,

I have the
pleasure to be your host in Warsaw, Poland, the motherland of John Paul II – the
Pope of the families, who, in building the civilization of life, put the family
in a central place.

Today again,
the world is turning towards Warsaw and Poland to whose history is inscribed the
devotion to the value of the family and family life. Over here, together, we can
repeat John Paul II’s words that the future of humanity goes through family.
This eminent heritage obligates us to further systematic work and sets the
direction of activities.

The World
Congress of Families IV, the first in a member-state of the New Europe, with the
patronage of the President of the Republic of Poland, is a manifestation for the
support of the families.

The presence
at the Congress of Sejm Speaker and Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of
Poland is a great honor for us.

At the
Congress, we also have the honor to host and listen to many representatives of
the Parliament of the Republic of Poland, the European Parliament and
representatives of the world of politics from member-states, who participate in
the International Forum of Parliamentarians organized under the patronage of
Sejm and Senate Speakers of the Republic of Poland to mark the World Congress of
Families IV.

I must stress
that over one hundred MPs of the European Parliament have sent messages of
support supported to the World Congress of Families IV, which, before it had
started its debates, became the subject of attack from several Euro-deputies –
opponents of the institution of the family. The Family, which is the natural
union, based on marriage, a union of woman and man, open to transferring of
life.

By referring
to the inter-parliamentary forum I want to stress the significance of the World
Congress of Families IV. Interest in the Congress manifested by the
parliamentarians and their active support show that they treat with respect and
prestige numerous non-governmental organizations and families engaged in the
organization of this world event.

On the other
hand, the presence of many families and non-governmental organizations from
Poland as well as other countries is evidence that that they want to share their
reflections and experiences and common care for family with the representatives
of the world of politics present at the Congress.

On all
continents, irrespective of the socio-economic situation the family, this
natural union, is the center of social good and the place of generating human
capital. The family is also the best school in which we learn the true freedom
and responsibility. And here I must stress another key aspect: in the family we
learn the unconditional respect for human life from the moment of conception to
natural death. We cannot separate respect for human life from the family because
they form two sides of the same medal.

Ladies and
Gentlemen, Dear Friends,

The future of
humanity goes through family. The family, and in it each child, even without an
identity card (passport), is the hope, the sign that humanity will not fall. It
is all the community of love. That is why we will give the floor to families
that have experience in creating strong inter-generation links, love and peace,
which are the guarantee of social development.

This Congress
is the chance to present the achievements in academic research over family and
also a forum for the exchange of experiences between groups and individuals
operating actively for family and protection of the right to life of every human
being from conception to natural death.

Cordial words
of greeting I direct in particular to the journalists who came to the World
Congress of Families in such a large numbers. It is the journalists who have an
important influence on forming social opinion and here together with them we
will try to answer whether the media are a threat or an opportunity for the
family.

The speakers
at the Congress, including academics, experts, politicians – parents in their
private lives -- will present topics concerning the economic situation of the
family, upbringing of children and also relating it to the significance of
mother’s work at home. I must stress that the new feminism recognizes the
upbringing and taking care of the home as the mother’s work at home, which it
recognizes and fully respects. The Congress will be a forum for discussion and
exchange of experiences on the official recognition as work – unpaid upbringing
of children by mothers.

We must not
forget about the appreciation of the role of the father in the family, also
about finding the answer to the question about the model of modern man, the
father of the family who shows his children the right way, leading them to their
happy life.

Ladies and Gentlemen

The meeting
of over 3,500 people who came from all around the Word confirms that we want to
work together to strengthen awareness of irreplaceable role and place the family
occupies in the society. We also want to encourage the families to unite in
order to protect and consolidate their rights.

I invite you
to participate in the World Congress of Families IV which gives the
possibilities of integration, exchange of experiences, presentation of
achievements and creative debate over the problems of family in the world and
finding of positive solutions.

I wish you
all rich experiences, deepening of knowledge, drawing of inspiration and
motivation for further activity in the service of family as to make the role of
the family increasingly appreciated and recognized in the today’s world.

I hope that
the World Congress of Families IV would also be a time spent in a nice and true
family climate.